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The links between economic growth and tax revenue in Ghana: an empirical investigation

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  • Wisdom Takumah
  • Bernard Njindan Iyke

Abstract

This paper explores the causal influence of tax revenue on economic growth in Ghana. The causality analysis builds on a multivariate setup, allowing for key control variables to intermediate the nexus between tax revenue and economic growth. This enables the paper to overcome variable omission bias, allowing for efficient estimates of the test statistics of the Granger causality. In addition, the paper employs the Toda-Yamamoto test instead of the conventional Granger causality test to avoid pre-testing bias. Using a quarterly dataset which spans the period 1986Q1-2014Q4, we find strong evidence of unidirectional causal flow from tax revenue to economic growth in Ghana. This finding agrees with the existing finding that taxation can influence economic growth. The implication for policy is that the tax scope of the country should be expanded in order to increase the revenue from taxation.

Suggested Citation

  • Wisdom Takumah & Bernard Njindan Iyke, 2017. "The links between economic growth and tax revenue in Ghana: an empirical investigation," International Journal of Sustainable Economy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 9(1), pages 34-55.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijsuse:v:9:y:2017:i:1:p:34-55
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sayef Bakaria, 2019. "If France Continues This Strategy, Taxes Will Destroy Domestic Investment And Economic Growth," Journal of Smart Economic Growth, , vol. 4(1), pages 31-45, Mars.
    3. Arvin, Mak B. & Pradhan, Rudra P. & Nair, Mahendhiran S., 2021. "Are there links between institutional quality, government expenditure, tax revenue and economic growth? Evidence from low-income and lower middle-income countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 468-489.
    4. Mkadmi, Jamel Eddine & Bakari, Sayef & Othmani, Ameni, 2021. "The Impact of Tax Revenues and Domestic Investments on Economic Growth in Tunisia," MPRA Paper 108387, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Audi, Marc & Ali, Amjad & Fayad Hamadeh, Hani, 2022. "Nexus among innovations, financial development and economic growth in developing countries," MPRA Paper 115220, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Bernard Njindan Iyke & Sin-Yu Ho, 2017. "The Real Exchange Rate, the Ghanaian Trade Balance, and the J-curve," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 380-392, July.
    7. Sin-Yu Ho & Bernard Njindan Iyke, 2017. "Does Financial Development Lead to Poverty Reduction in China? Time Series Evidence," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 9(1), pages 99-112.
    8. Sin-Yu Ho, 2018. "Analysing the sources of growth in an emerging market economy: the Thailand experience," International Journal of Sustainable Economy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(4), pages 340-359.
    9. Sin-Yu Ho & Bernard Njindan Iyke, 2020. "The Determinants of Economic Growth in Ghana: New Empirical Evidence," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 21(3), pages 626-644, June.
    10. Mkadmi, Jamel Eddine & Bakari, Sayef & Msai, Achwak, 2021. "Assessing the Impact of Tax Policies on Economic Growth in Tunisia: New Empirical and Policy Analysis," MPRA Paper 109023, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Chung Tin Fah, 2019. "Malaysia’s Tax Structure – Aligning Taxes to Higher Income Country," Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance, Eurasian Publications, vol. 7(2), pages 42-58.
    12. Ho, Sin-Yu, 2017. "The Macroeconomic Determinants of Stock Market Development: Evidence from Malaysia," MPRA Paper 77232, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    14. Rudra P. Pradhan & Mak B. Arvin & Mahendhiran S. Nair & John H. Hall, 2022. "The dynamics between financial market development, taxation propensity, and economic growth: a study of OECD and non-OECD countries," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1503-1534, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    causality; economic growth; tax revenue; Ghana; Toda-Yamamoto test.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E6 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue

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